Electrode package and sealing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electrode package includes an electrode pad to be attached to a subject, the electrode pad having a gel layer, a lead wire having one end electrically coupled to the gel layer, and a packaging cover having an opening portion, the opening portion being sealed such that the electrode pad and a part of the lead wire are housed inside the packaging cover. A sealing width in at least a part of a section where the packaging cover is sealed together with the lead wire is narrower than a sealing width in a section where only the packaging cover is sealed. A sealing apparatus is configured to seal the packaging cover.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electrode package used for adefibrillator such as an automated external defibrillator (AED), and asealing apparatus for scaling the electrode package.

BACKGROUND ART

An AED is a medical device for applying an electric shock(defibrillation) to a subject in ventricular fibrillation to bring theheart of the subject back to a normal condition. The AED has a maindevice configured to generate such an electric shock, and electrode padsto be attached to a human body. The electrode pads can also be used fordefibrillators used in hospitals and the like.

Because the AED is required to be used quickly, various measures aretaken to allow its quick use. For example, the AED is stored in astorage case in a state in which the main device and the electrode padsare connected to each other in advance (pre-connection). In order toimplement the pre-connection, an electrode package is provided. Theelectrode package includes a packaging cover and connector-equipped leadwires extending outside from the packaging cover. That is, one ends ofthe lead wires are connected to the electrode pads, and parts of thelead wires and the electrode pads are housed and stored inside thesealed packaging cover. The other parts of the lead wires extend outsidefrom the inside of the packaging cover.

A sealing apparatus, such as an impulse sealer, is used to seal up thelead wires and the electrode pads inside the packaging cover. Thesealing apparatus seals an opening portion of the packaging cover in astate in which the electrode pads and the parts of the lead wires arehoused inside the packaging cover. In this manner, it is possible toproduce the electrode package in which the other parts of the lead wiresextend outside from the inside of the packaging cover.

There are some related art for such an electrode package in which partsof lead wires and electrode pads are housed inside a packaging cover.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,919A discloses a package in whichelectrode pads are housed in a packaging cover. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,884Adiscloses a system for packaging electrode pads used for defibrillation.U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,640A discloses an electrode package in which apackaging cover is pressed and heated to be sealed, and a method formanufacturing the electrode package.

Related art electrode packages are manufactured such that an openingportion of a packaging cover is sealed in a state in which parts of leadwires extend outside the packaging cover. To perform the sealing, thesealing apparatus presses and heats the packaging cover (film) and thencools it to seal the packaging cover. Generally, there is a slightvariation in thickness among the lead wires. Therefore, the thickness(seal diameter) of a seal is made slightly narrower than the diameter ofeach of the lead wires. A thick diameter of lead wire may cause acoating of the lead wire that has been pressed and heated to be meltedto partially protrude from the packaging cover, thereby giving a feelingof insecurity to a user (or may cause the user to misunderstand that itis defective). FIG. 12 is a view illustrating such melted parts. In FIG.12, an enlarged view of a sealed section for the lead wires isillustrated. As shown in FIG. 12, the melted parts of the cablesprotrude from the packaging cover. These melted parts protruding fromthe packaging cover gives a negative feeling to the user.

SUMMARY

Illustrative aspects of the present invention provide an electrodepackage in which an effect of melting of a lead wire of the electrodepackage is small.

According to an illustrative aspect of the present invention, anelectrode package includes an electrode pad to be attached to a subject,the electrode pad having a gel layer, a lead wire having one endelectrically coupled to the gel layer, and a packaging cover having anopening portion, the opening portion being sealed such that theelectrode pad and a part of the lead wire are housed inside thepackaging cover. A sealing width in at least a part of a section wherethe packaging cover is sealed together with the lead wire is narrowerthan a sealing width in a section where only the packaging cover issealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an electrode packageaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a structure for sealing anopening portion of the electrode package.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating another example of a structure for sealingthe opening portion of the electrode package.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating another example of a structure for sealingthe opening portion of the electrode package.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating another example of a structure for sealingthe opening portion of the electrode package.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating another example of a structure for sealingthe opening portion of the electrode package.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a sealingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the sealingapparatus.

FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating a configuration of the sealingapparatus.

FIG. 10 is a chart illustrating a temperature change of a heater of thesealing apparatus.

FIG. 11A is a view illustrating a configuration of the heater.

FIG. 11B is another view illustrating a configuration of the heater.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a sealing structure of a related artelectrode package.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. Same elements illustrated inthe drawings are denoted by same reference signs respectively, andduplicate description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an electrode package 1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electrode package 1has a packaging cover 10, electrode pads 20, lead wires 30, and aconnector (not shown). To illustrate the internal structure of theelectrode package 1, a state in which a portion of the packaging cover10 is torn apart is shown in FIG. 1.

In the electrode package 1, parts of the lead wires 30 and the electrodepads 20 are sealed up and housed inside the packaging cover 10. As shownin FIG. 1, the other parts of the lead wires 30 extend outside thepackaging cover 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a direction in which the leadwires 30 extend outside the packaging cover 10 is referred to as “+Xdirection (lead wire extension direction)”, and an opposite direction tothe +X direction (lead wire extension direction) is referred to as “−Xdirection (packaging cover interior direction)”.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode pads 20 having the same configurationare provided in a pair. The electrode pads 20 are attached to a surfaceof a body of a subject (e.g., a patient) mainly when a defibrillatorsuch as an automated external defibrillator (AED) is in use. Each of theelectrode pads 20 is provided with a conductive gel layer to be attachedto a surface of a body of a subject, an electrode layer which contactingthe gel layer to obtain biological signals from the body of the subject,and a non-conductive sheet which is provided on a back side of the gellayer. Although not shown in FIG. 1, figures illustrating how to attachthe electrode pad 20 may be printed on the non-conductive sheet.

The lead wires 30 are provided for the electrode pads 20 respectively.Each of the lead wires 30 is a cable which electrically connects thedefibrillator (e.g., the AED) and the electrode pad 20 to each other.Specifically, one ends of the lead wires 30 are electrically coupled tothe gel layers of the electrode pads 20 respectively. In addition. theother ends of the lead wires 30 are connected to the connector (notshown) serving as a connection portion to the defibrillator.

The connector (not shown) is a connection portion which electricallyconnects the defibrillator and the lead wires 30 (hence the electrodepads 20) to each other. Through the connector (not shown), a voltage canbe applied from the defibrillator to the electrode pads 20 when thedefibrillator is in use. The connector (not shown) may be a connectionmechanism which has general pins (or pin insertion ports).

The electrode pads 20 and the parts of the lead wires 30 are housedinside the packaging cover 10. For example, the packaging cover 10 maybe made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The packaging cover 10 maycontain polyethylene or Himilan (registered trademark). As will bedescribed later, an opening portion 11 is sealed by a sealing apparatus(pressed and heated from opposite sides of the packaging cover) afterthe electrode pads 20 and the parts of the lead wires 30 are housedinside the packaging cover 10. In this manner, a sealed electrodepackage 1 is formed.

Next, the sealed opening portion 11 (indicated as a one-dot chain lineportion in FIG. 1) will be described in detail. In the sealed openingportion 11, a sealing width in one section where the lead wires 30 andthe packaging cover 10 are sealed together is narrower than a sealingwidth in the other section (a sealing width in a section where only thepackaging cover 10 is sealed). Various forms may be provided as openingportions 11 having the property. Configuration examples of the sealedopening portions 11 will be described as follows.

FIG. 2 is an example of an enlarged view of the opening portion 11 inFIG. 1 (the one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). In FIG. 2, a downwarddirection is the +X direction (lead wire extension direction) and anupward direction is the −X direction (packaging cover interiordirection). In FIG. 2, each lead wire 30 inside the packaging cover 10is denoted by a dotted line. In addition, in FIG. 2, a sealed section 40(a part where the packaging cover 10 is fixed) is hatched by obliquelines. An edge portion 14 of the packaging cover 10 is an outer edge ofthe packaging cover 10. Although one lead wire 30 is connected to eachof the electrode pads 20 in the illustrated example, two or more leadwires 30 may be connected to each of the electrode pads 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sealing width (S1 in FIG. 2) in one section wherethe lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together isnarrower than a sealing width (S2 in FIG. 2) in the other section whereonly the packaging cover 10 is sealed. Here, the scaling widths meanentire widths in the sealed sections. In the configuration in FIG. 2,the sealing width (S1 in FIG. 2) in the section where the lead wires 30and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together is narrower on theopposite sides in the −X direction (the packaging cover interiordirection, upward direction in FIG. 2) and the +X direction (the leadwire extension direction, which is the downward direction in FIG. 2). Inother words, the sealing width (S1 in FIG. 2) in the section where thelead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together is narrowedto be set back from the opposite sides.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sealing width in the section where the leadwires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together is narrower thanthe sealing width in the other section. Accordingly, spaces 12 aregenerated inside the packaging cover 10. The spaces 12 are located atportions close to places where the lead wires 30 are melted. Therefore,melted parts of the lead wires 30 can be retained in the spaces 12. Inthis manner, it is possible to avoid protrusion of the melted parts ofthe lead wires 30 from the packaging cover 10.

The sealing widths are not limited particularly. However, the sealingwidth (S1) in the section where the lead wires 30 and the packagingcover 10 are sealed together may be about 5 mm and the scaling width(S2) in the other section where only the packaging cover 10 is sealedmay be about 6 mm. A ratio between the sealing width (S1) in the sectionwhere the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are scaled togetherand the sealing width (S2) in the other section where only the packagingcover 10 is sealed may be about 1:1.1 to 1:1.5.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of another example of the opening portion 11in FIG. 1 (the one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). In the exampleshown in FIG. 3, a sealing width in parts of the section where only thepackaging cover 10 is sealed is also narrowed. That is, the scalingwidth is also narrowed in parts (spaces 13 in FIG. 3) of the sectionwhere only the packaging cover 10 is sealed. Also in such a form, spaces12 are generated in the vicinities of the section where the lead wires30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of another example of the opening portion 11in FIG. 1 (the one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). In the example,configuration is made such that a sealing width in a section where thelead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are scaled together is narroweronly in the +X direction (the lead wire extension direction, which is adown direction in FIG. 4). Thus, a larger space 12 than that in theexamples of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is provided between the edge portion 14 ofthe packaging cover 10 and a sealed section 40. Due to the larger space12 being provided, melted parts of the lead wires 30 can be retained inthe packaging cover 10 in a more reliable manner.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of another example of the opening portion 11in FIG. 1 (the one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). In the example, aspace 12 where scaling (fixation) is not performed is provided inside asealed section 40 in which the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10are scaled together. Also in this case, a scaling width (S4+S5) in onesection where the lead wire 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealedtogether is narrower than a sealing width (S2) in the other sectionwhere only the packaging cover 10 is sealed.

In the foregoing description, the examples where the sealing width inthe entire section where the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10are sealed together is narrower than the sealing width in the othersection have been described (in FIGS. 2 to 5). However, anyconfiguration may be made as long as the sealing width in at least apart of the section where the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10are sealed together is narrower than the sealing width in the othersection (the section where only the packaging cover 10 is sealed). Suchan example is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a sealing width (S1) in a partof the section where the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 arescaled together is narrower than a sealing width in the section whereonly the packaging cover 10 is sealed. In FIG. 6, the section where thelead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together includesparts (S6) each having the same scaling width as that in the othersection. However, spaces 12 into which melted parts of the lead wires 30can be retained are also provided in the configuration. Thus, a fixedeffect can be obtained.

Next, advantages of the electrode package 1 will be described. Asdescribed above, the sealing width in the section where the packagingcover 10 is sealed together with the lead wires 30 is narrower than thesealing width in the section where only the packaging cover 10 issealed. Due to the narrowed sealing width, the space 12 into which themelted parts of the lead wires 30 can be retained is provided. Thus, itis possible to retain the melted parts of the lead wires 30 in thepackaging cover 10, thereby avoiding a fear that the melted parts maygive a feeling of insecurity to a user (or may cause the user tomisunderstand that they are defective). In addition, it is also passibleto avoid an event that the protruding melted parts may be obstacles whenseparating the electrode pads 20 from the packaging cover. That is, itis possible to provide the electrode package 1 in which an effect ofmelting of the lead wires 30 is reduced.

The configuration in which the sealing width in the entire section wherethe lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together isnarrower than the sealing width in the other section (the sealing widthin the section where only the packaging cover 10 is sealed) is morepreferable (FIGS. 2 to 5). This makes it possible to ensure sufficientspace 12 to avoid an effect of melting of the lead wires 30 in a morereliable manner.

Next, a configuration example of a sealing apparatus 100 configured toseal the packaging cover 10 of the electrode package 1 will bedescribed. FIGS. 7 to 9 are views illustrating an external configurationof the sealing apparatus 100 viewed from three different sides. FIG. 7is a front view of the sealing apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 7, adirection of a horizontal axis when the sealing apparatus 100 is viewedfrom the front is set as an X-axis direction. In addition, a directionof a vertical axis when the sealing apparatus 100 is viewed from thefront is set as a Y-axis direction (an upward direction is set as a +Ydirection and a downward direction is set as a −Y direction in FIG. 7).Various input/output interfaces 101 (such as a button, a knob, a settingbar, and an indication lamp for indicating an operating state) areprovided in a lower portion of a front surface of the sealing apparatus100. A heater 102 is provided in an upper portion of the sealingapparatus 100. To seal the opening portion 11, the heater 102 moves inthe −Y direction to press and heat the opening portion 11 between theheater 102 and a heater 103. Each of the heaters 102, 103 may be a metalplate etc. having a small thermal expansion coefficient, for example, ina temperature range of from 100° C. to 200° C. After pressing andheating the opening portion 11, the heaters 102, 103 press the openingportion 11 to cool the opening portion 11.

A sealing method using the scaling apparatus 100 will be described. Auser places the opening portion 11 on the heater 103 in the lowerportion of the sealing apparatus 100 in a state in which parts of thelead wires 30 and the electrode pads 20 are housed inside the packagingcover 10. Then, the sealing apparatus 100 holds the opening portion 11between the upper heater 102 and the lower heater 103. The heaters 102,103 press and heat the opening portion 11 from the opposite sides. Thepressed place becomes the sealed section 40. The lead wires 30 andpolyethylene, Himilan (registered trademark) etc. contained in theinterior of the packaging cover 10 are pressed and heated to be therebymelted. After being pressed and heated, the melted sealed section 40 iscooled to be thereby coagulated. Thus, the opening portion 11 is sealedin the state in which the lead wires 30 are interposed.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the sealing apparatus 100. A depth direction (ahorizontal direction in FIG. 8) of the sealing apparatus 100 is set as aZ-axis direction. The sealing apparatus 100 has the heater 102 which isdisposed in the upper portion of the apparatus and the heater 103 whichis provided in a position in the lower portion of the apparatuscorrespondingly to the heater 102. In addition, the sealing apparatus100 has a temperature control unit (not shown) for performingtemperature control of the heaters 102, 103. That is, the sealingapparatus 100 is configured to control the temperatures of the heaters102, 103 ((heating and cooling) to perform sealing.

During the sealing, the heater 102 moves in the −Y direction so that theheaters 102, 103 press the opening portion 11 between the heaters 102,103 and along the opening portion 11 to heat the opening portion 11. Theopening portion 11 is then cooled to implement the sealing. The heaters102, 103 may both move during the sealing to press the opening portion11 between the heaters 102, 103 and along the opening portion 11.

FIG. 9 is a view of the sealing apparatus 100 from top. As shown in FIG.9, the heater 102 is provided to extend in the Z-axis direction.Although not shown, the heater 103 is provided in a position opposed tothe heater 102.

The heaters 102, 103 will be described more in detail. The heater 102 isattached to a seal bar 104. The seal bar 104 may have a function offixing the heater 102 and cooling the heater 102. Similarly, the heater103 is attached to a seal bar 105. The seal bar 105 may also have afunction of fixing the heater 103 and cooling the heater 103. A flow ofa sealing process of an impulse sealer provided with a temperaturecontrol function will be described as follows. First, the heaters 102,103 start pressing the opening portion 11 such that the opening portion11 is held between the heaters 102, 103. After holding the openingportion 11, electric current is applied to the heaters 102, 103 to startheating. After a given period of time, the heaters 102, 103 terminatethe heating. The opening portion 11 is then cooled after the heating isterminated. The heaters 102, 103 release the pressing. Thus, theelectrode package 1 in which the opening portion 11 is sealed is formed.

An operation example of the impulse sealer provided with the temperaturecontrol function will be further described with reference to FIG. 10.FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between an elapsed limesince Stan of the sealing process and temperature change of the heaters102, 103. The sealing process is started at a time t1. The heater 102starts moving (time t1) and the heaters 102, 103 start pressing (timet2). Electric current is applied to the heaters 102, 103 so that theheaters 102, 103 start heating the opening portion 11 (time t3). Afterthe start of the heating, the temperature of the heaters 102, 103 soonreaches a preset temperature (140° C. in this example) (time t4). Theheaters 102, 103 repeal ON/OFF of the electric current to continue theheating at the preset temperature for a given period of time (timeperiod from t4 to t5). Then, the heaters 102, 103 terminate the heating(time t5). After the heating is terminated, the opening portion 11 iscooled (time period from t5 to t6). When the temperature of the openingportion 11 becomes a fixed temperature (70° C. in this example) orlower, the sealing apparatus 100 terminates the pressing (time t6).Thus, the electrode package 1 in which the opening portion 11 is sealedis formed.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating a structure example of theheater 102 corresponding to the opening portion 11 shown in FIG. 2. Theheater 102 has a recessed portion 1021 corresponding to the sectionwhere the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together(FIG. 11A).

The heater 102 further has a narrowed portion 1022 for narrowing asealing width at the section where the lead wires 30 and the packagingcover 10 are sealed together. That is, the heater 102 has a shape (aconstricted part 1022) whose width is partially narrowed. In thefollowing description, the length of the heater 102 in the X-axisdirection (the length of the heater 102 in the extending direction ofthe lead wire 30) is defined as the width of the heater 102. Due to thenarrowed portion 1022 being provided, electric resistance in this part(the position for sealing the lead wires 30) increases. The magnitude ofthe resistance R is inversely proportional to the width of the heater102 w (R is proportional to l/w) according to the formula of theresistance (R being proportional to L/S in which L denotes a length andS denotes a sectional area). The heating quantity Q is proportional toIR² according to Joule's law, in which I denotes the current and Rdenotes the resistance. Accordingly, the heating quantity Q in each partof the heater 102 is inversely proportional to w² (Q is proportional tol/w²).

A heater width (width in the X-axis direction) in the part of the heater102 where the narrowed portion 1022 is provided is set at 5 mm and aheater width (width in the X-axis direction) in the other part of theheater 102 is set at 6 mm. Thickness (length in the Y-axis direction) ineach part is fixed. That is, the sectional area of the part where thenarrowed portion 1022 is provided is narrower than the sectional area ofthe other part. In this case, a heating quantity Q1 in the part wherethe narrowed portion 1022 is provided is 1.44 times (( 1/25)/( 1/36)) aslarge as a heating quantity Q2 in the part where the narrowed portion1022 is not provided. By a general sealing apparatus, it is difficult toseal the lead wires 30 once due to shortage of a heating quantity of aheater (heating portion) when there is a variation in thickness amongthe lead wires 30. Therefore, the general sealing apparatus heats onlythe lead wires in a first sealing process to thereby mold thethicknesses of the lead wires into a fixed thickness (preforming) orsoften the lead wires (preheating) and then seal the packaging cover andthe lead wires in a second sealing process. That is, the general sealingapparatus performs sealing twice. On the other hand, according to thesealing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, the heating quantityQ1 in the part where the narrowed portion 1022 is provided is 1.44 timesas large as the heating quantity Q2 in the part where the narrowedportion 1022 is not provided. Accordingly, it is possible tosufficiently heat even the section which requires a larger heatingquantity in order to seal the lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10together. Thus, the section where the lead wires 30 and the packagingcover 10 are sealed together can be fixed in a reliable manner even whenthe sealing is performed only once. As described above, the magnitude ofthe resistance R is inversely proportional to the sectional area (avalue depending on the width (length in the X-axis direction) of theheater 102 and the thickness (length in the Y-axis direction) of theheater 102). Therefore, the thickness (dimension in the Y-axisdirection) of the heater 102 may be adjusted to adjust the heatingquantity in each part of the heater 102.

FIG. 11B is a view showing the structure of the heater 102 similarly toFIG. 11A. As shown in FIG. 11B, the recessed portion 1021 where the leadwires 30 can be disposed is provided. The user performs the sealingprocess after placing the lead wires 30 on the recessed portion 1021.

Although not shown in the drawings, the heater 103 may havesubstantially the same configuration as the heater 102. The heaters 102,103 are configured to hold the packaging cover 10 and the lead wires 30between the heaters 102, 103.

As described above, the heaters 102, 103, each being partially narrowedin width correspondingly to the lead wires 30, are used to perform thesealing. Since the heating quantity in the narrowed part is higher, thesection which requires a higher heating quantity in order to seal thelead wines 30 and the packaging cover 10 together can be sealed in areliable manner when the lead wires 30 are disposed in the narrowedpart. In addition, after making control so that both the section wherethe lead wires 30 and the packaging cover 10 are sealed together and theother section reach proper temperature, the sealing apparatus 100 canperform heating and cooling. Accordingly, the scaling apparatus 100 cancomplete scaling by a single process.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainexemplary embodiments thereof, the scope of the present invention is notlimited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-175340filed on Sep. 7, 2015 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-153154filed on Aug. 3, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

1. An electrode package comprising: an electrode pad to be attached to asubject, the electrode pad having a gel layer; a lead wire having oneend electrically coupled to the gel layer; and a packaging cover havingan opening portion, the opening portion being sealed such that theelectrode pad and a part of the lead wire are housed inside thepackaging cover, wherein a sealing width in at least a part of a sectionwhere the packaging cover is sealed together with the lead wire isnarrower than a sealing width in a section where only the packagingcover is sealed.
 2. The electrode package according to claim 1, whereinthe sealing width in the entire section where the packaging cover issealed together with the lead wire is narrower than the sealing width inthe section where only the packaging cover is sealed.
 3. The electrodepackage according to claim 1, wherein the electrode package isconfigured such that the sealing width in the section where thepackaging cover is sealed together with the lead wire is narrowed in anextending direction of the lead wire.
 4. The electrode package accordingto claim 1, wherein the electrode package is configured such that thesealing width in the section where the packaging cover is sealedtogether with the lead wire is narrowed in an extending direction of thelead wire and in an interior direction of the packaging cover.
 5. Theelectrode package according to claim 1, wherein the sealing width in thesection where only the packaging cover is sealed is 1.1 to 1.5 timeswider than the sealing width in the section where the packaging cover issealed together with the lead wire.
 6. A sealing apparatus for sealing apackaging cover, the sealing apparatus comprising a heater configured toperform heating for the sealing, wherein a sectional area of one part ofthe heater is narrower than a sectional area of the other part of theheater.
 7. The sealing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theheater is configured such that a width of the one part of the heater isnarrower than a width of the other part of the heater.
 8. The electrodepackage according to claim 1, wherein the packaging cover comprisespolyethylene terephthalate.
 9. The electrode package according to claim1, wherein the sealing width is defined in a direction from a closestpoint on an edge of the opening portion of the packaging cover toward aninside of the packaging cover.
 10. The sealing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the heater comprises a first heater and a second heaterto press the packaging cover between the first heater and the secondheater for the sealing.
 11. The sealing apparatus according to claim 6,further comprising a seal bar to which the heater is attached, the sealbar being configured to fix the heater and to cool the heater.